The Red Sox have signed a deal with a journeyman pitcher looking to make a comeback season

The Boston Red Sox bullpen was a headache to watch in 2024, and this winter will be spent retooling the underwhelming arsenal.

This season, Boston’s bullpen had a 4.39 ERA, ranking them 24th in the league. Only three relief corps in the American League had worse statistics: the Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, and the 121-loss Chicago White Sox.

Fortunately, the Red Sox executive management is already taking steps to increase the efficiency of next season’s bullpen.

“Free-agent reliever Justin Wilson and the Boston Red Sox are in agreement on a contract, according to sources familiar with the deal,” FanSided’s Robert Murray first reported Thursday.

Wilson has logged a 34-29 record with a 3.61 ERA, 561-to-223 strikeout-to-walk ratio, .231 batting average against and a 1.30 WHIP throughout his 12-year career, during which he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers.

The 37-year-old has undergone Tommy John surgery and suffered many injuries in recent seasons, which have hampered Wilson’s pitching efficiency and playing time.

It’s too early to say whether Wilson will make an impact in the Red Sox bullpen next season. In 46 2/3 innings pitched for Cincinnati in 2024, the journeyman was 1-5 with a 5.59 ERA, 51-to-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio,.286 batting average against, and 1.46 WHIP.

It is worth mentioning that Wilson has had periods of domination throughout his career, so he could be useful. Perhaps joining a highly regarded franchise, such as the Red Sox, will allow the elderly veteran to refocus on what made him successful earlier in his career.